Racing: Punting records tumble

New Zealand punters smashed record after record on yesterday's Melbourne Cup.

TAB racing manager Michael Dore said all sorts of betting records were broken with total betting on the race reaching $8.6 million.

"That's 11 per cent up on last year's record of $7.7 million," Dore said last night.

Another record was the $3.25 million in the pool for the trifecta.

"It's our first ever pool to break $3 million," he said. The previous record was the $2.8 million for last year's Melbourne Cup.

About $500,000 was bet in fixed-odds, nearly $700,000 in quinellas and $4.65 million in win and place bets.

Asked if the win and place total was a record, Dore replied: "Bound to be. It's the biggest everything."

Dore said the presence of Makybe Diva would have inspired betting.

"She would have inspired betting around the world. She didn't just win, she's killed them," he said.

"It's been a terrific result - Makybe Diva, we salute you."

Dore said the $5.10 win dividend Makybe Diva returned with the New Zealand TAB would have been among the best in the world.

He said once-a-year punters would probably be surprised a horse who had won the previous two Melbourne Cup should return such a good price.

"The $5 dividend is going to seem fantastic. People are going to say, this horse always wins, and it's still paying $5 ... they'll be thinking this racing game's great."

- NZPA